There is a certain amount of risk that goes along with publishing a list such as is found on the following pages. The biggest risk is knowing that some people, some places and some things that are very, very deserving of mention fail to make it here.

Such is the case here. This compilation of the treasures of Tupelo and Greater Lee County is in no way to be considered complete, especially where the people are concerned. There are so many who work to make this area the great community it is, but space just simply wouldn’t allow us to showcase them all here – that could be another full magazine in its own right. The names included here came to us by recommendations of others. That several people recommended the same names to us speaks highly of those who are included here.

We would love to hear your feedback on this collection of treasures. Have we overlooked some very deserving figures? Tell us about them. E-mail us at apartmentfinder@hotmail.com, or mail your recommendations to Apartment Finder, Attn: Treasures, P.O. Box 3822, Tupelo, MS 38803. Then watch our Web site (www.apt-finder.com) and Blog (http://apt-finder.blogspot.com) for additional treasures submitted by readers.

We hope you enjoy this list from our treasure hunt, and look forward to seeing what else our great readers contribute.

Legend Publishing owner Wesley Wells contributed to this feature.

People

Lee County is blessed.

Every community should have people as great as these. While other listings of the treasures of Tupelo and Greater Lee County are numbered, the names presented here are in no particular order or ranking so as to specifically avoid any suggestion that one is better than the other. These people not only embody that same spirit, but they also have either contributed greatly to the communities in which they live or are treasures by their contributions in other ways. This list is by no means complete; many who are deserving of recognition aren’t here for the simple reason there is not room to list all who are. This list is merely a sampling of the people who make Tupelo great.

Publisher’s note: I do have business dealings with two of the individuals listed within -- Tommy Morgan and Rubye Del Harden -- but their inclusion was in no way influenced by these relationships. If anything, knowing them and some of what they have done for others behind the scenes made me more aware of their contributions to the community.

For a century, the Reed family has been one of the driving forces in building and lifting Tupelo to higher standards. Here, Jack Reed Jr., left, and Jack Reed Sr. stand above the clothing of the men’s department at Reed’s in Downtown Tupelo. Reed's is only one of a few home-owned department stores in Mississippi.

Jack Reed Sr./The Reed Family: Owners, Reed’s Department Stores

Dating back to 1905, when Jack Reed Sr.’s father came from Itawamba County and opened a grocery store in Tupelo, the Reed family has been woven into the Tupelo story as much as they helped to write it and goad the community on to bigger and better things. Reed’s Department Store has been a fixture in Downtown Tupelo since 1907, and the company will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding this year. Jack Reed Sr. has been instrumental in Tupelo’s development through the years, and was one of the early business leaders who helped found the Community Development Foundation. Reed was also a major force in bringing major education improvements to the entire state in Mississippi’s education reform of the early 1980s. Reed and his family have been major supporters of many projects for civic betterment.

Doyce Deas/The Hancock Family: Director, Learning Skills Center

When the words “generosity” or “philanthropy” are mentioned, it is almost a given around Tupelo that the Hancock family will be the first brought up. In fact, Mrs. Deas and the Hancock family were one of the first recommended as a treasure of the area. Deas is the daughter of the late L.D. Hancock, who not only was an extremely successful businessman (Hancock Fabrics was one of his businesses), but also was a very giving person. The L.D. Hancock Foundation exists today to provide funding for good and worthy causes, especially education. Deas’ philanthropy also extends to the arts, where she and her husband, Bill, support numerous artistic and creative efforts. In January, Deas was elected as one of seven new members of the Board of Trustees of the The Southeastern Council of Foundations (SECF), “a membership association of grantmaking foundations and programs,” according to a press release. The SECF cited Deas’ work as a trustee of the L. D. Hancock Foundation and chair of the Doyce H. Deas Foundation in Tupelo. It also cited her work as chair of the Mississippi Forum for Children & Families, the Harrisburg Cultural & Social Services Center and the board of the Tupelo Corps Salvation Army. Deas and the Hancocks have opened missions in Honduras, Ecuador and El Salvador, and the Hancock family donated land for The Sanctuary Hospice House’s new facility in West Tupelo.

Kay Bain: Host of WTVA’s Mornin’ show

On October 30, 1978, Buddy and Kay Bain debuted their home-style news, music and entertainment show on WTVA and quickly became household names in Northeast Mississippi. They not only performed on television, but also sang at numerous festivals, nursing homes and special events and locations around the region. After Buddy passed away in 1997, Kay has continued the tradition of the Mornin’ show and has kept up a busy schedule of visits and performances in the area. In Buddy’s memory, and to raise awareness, The Buddy Bain Memorial Diabetes Walk is held each year in his honor. Kay has continued to keep up the work they both did for worthy organizations and charities, including the American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association, and The Diabetes Foundation. In 1999 the Mississippi Legislature designated a portion of U.S. Highway 45 in Lee, Prentiss and Alcorn Counties as the “Buddy and Kay Bain Highway.” Kay has received many awards and honors for her work, and they are much deserved.

Johnnie Lee Smith: Resident of and former midwife in Baldwyn If someone is a resident of Baldwyn, chances are Johnnie Lee Smith knows them, knows of them, or was personally involved in their arrival to the world. Smith served for many years as a midwife in the Baldwyn community, ultimately delivering about 300 babies in the area. Today, well into her 90s but looking as young as she feels, “Miss Johnnie” is one of the city’s most beloved residents. She remains active and contributes a periodic column in the weekly paper, The Baldwyn News. Smith, who was heavily featured in the advertising by a local bank, said in an interview for print and television in 2003 that she, “just always wanted to help people.” That’s the kind of spirit that some 300 Baldwyn residents can definitely appreciate.

Joe Rutherford: Editorial Page Editor of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

For more than 30 years, Joe Rutherford has been a witness to -- and reporter of -- history in his various positions with the Daily Journal. Rutherford is a living treasure trove of information regarding Tupelo, Lee County and Northeast Mississippi. He served for many years alongside the late George McLean, former owner of the Daily Journal and the driving force in Tupelo’s launch from poor farming community to the thriving community it is today. Ask Rutherford about an event or date in Tupelo’s history, and he can immediately begin to tell not only what happened, but also much of who and what was behind what happened and the follow-up history of where things stand today. His dry but great wit adds even more depth and dimension to the stories. He could probably hold a history buff spellbound for hours. He is a true gentleman, too. Rutherford’s dynamic and virtually unlimited knowledge of all things Tupelo makes him a true treasure of the community.

Frank Spain: Broadcasting executive, owner of WTVA television in Tupelo

Spain’s ownership and stake in several broadcasting outlets around Mississippi and the United States gave him the resources to build a massive collection of antique and collector automobiles. At one time, this collection was separated, house privately in Tupelo and other locations, including out West. In 2002, Spain made his magnificent auto collection available to the public with the opening of the Tupelo Automobile Museum. More than 110 cars of Spain’s 140-plus car collection are on display in the nicely appointed museum, which is a cornerstone of Fairpark District. Before deciding to keep the collection in Tupelo, Spain was courted heavily by other venues, including Orlando, Florida, for the right to showcase his collection. He chose, however, to keep it here in the community that he says supported him in business and allowed him to build the collection.

Rev. Robert Jamison: Pastor, New Providence Baptist Church, Tupelo

One look at his resume, and it is obvious what has been the focus of The Rev. Robert Jamison’s career: teaching and taking care of others. His job stops are different, but the mission was the same. Jamison, a Community Action Agency director and member of the board of the Community Development Foundation, taught for many years at the former Carver High School before taking the position of executive director of Lift, Inc. He served at Lift for 12 years before taking on his current calling as pastor. In January, Jamison was honored with the Drum Major Award, given by the Committee for King, which annually bestows the honor upon someone who leads by example in advocating the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jamison has touched many lives through the years. Jamison isn’t one to shout -- nor really even tout -- his own praises. Others, however, are more than ready to do so. The Rev. Charles Penson was quoted in the Daily Journal in January as saying of Jamison, “He’s a pastor for the entire community, not just one church.”

Tom Booth: Business Manager, Tupelo Community Theatre His friendly, inviting demeanor alone makes Tom Booth an asset to the Tupelo Community Theatre. Add his talent for directing award-winning productions and his energy for building the support base of the theatre, and Booth’s contributions to not only the theatre but also the community become priceless. Booth has directed several plays for the theatre, including Bel Canto, a production that earned TCT, its cast and crew top honors at the 2004 Southeastern Theatre Conference. He also directed TCT’s 2004 Christmas production of Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular. TCT has thrived under Booth’s leadership, and the community as a whole has been the winner for Booth’s tireless devotion to making TCT an organization cities much larger than Tupelo would be envious to have.

Jim High: Assistant Director, Downtown Tupelo/Main Street Association

It’s funny how things run in cycles. In 1920, S. James High was named president of The Peoples Bank (Now Renasant Bank, having changed its name earlier this year). A year later, as cotton prices were plummeting, High and other area bankers and leaders made strong efforts to promote diversification in the economy of the Tupelo area to alleviate the economic woes that could develop by relying too heavily on one source. Fast forward to 2005. S.J. High’s grandson, Jim High, has dedicated a lot of time and energy into promoting diversification of businesses in the Downtown Tupelo district, knowing that when all that is around is lawyer offices and banks, Downtown will not be much of a draw. High’s deep roots here (he’s also the great-grandson of the late Congressman John Allen) would not allow him to sit idly by and watch Downtown wither. His work at the Main Street Association has been huge in promoting Downtown as a destination for a variety of businesses and people, and efforts at diversification are paying off. More restaurants and specialty shops are moving back Downtown. And, such events as the Tupelo Elvis Festival, the Downtown Chili Fest and the Tupelo Farmers’ Market have people buzzing about the redevelopment of Downtown. Jim High, with his jovial demeanor and passion for Downtown Tupelo, has been a big part of this revitalization.

Shawn Brevard: President, Cultural Alliance of Tupelo/Lee County

Shawn Brevard is a strong supporter of the arts in Tupelo and Lee County, and her work shows it. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Tupelo Community Theatre. She was honored in 2004 by the GumTree Museum of Art with its first Art Patron of the Year award. The honor came from her extensive efforts in supporting and bringing all kinds of artistic endeavors to Tupelo and Northeast Mississippi. Brevard is very active in the Cultural Alliance of Tupelo and Lee County. She also serves on the board of directors of Tupelo Community Theatre. One of Brevard’s primary focuses is arts activities for children. She dedicates time to working with students at Tupelo Middle School, among other children’s activities. The Tupelo/Lee County community is much richer because of such efforts. Children who are exposed to the arts are certainly being given a gift by Brevard that can pay big dividends in the future.

Lewis Whitfield: Senior Vice President for Regional Community Development, CREATE Foundation

A heart for helping others has led Lewis Whitfield from the banking sector to CREATE, where his passion for community development will now be his full-time focus. His previous career did not stand in the way of Whitfield’s work in the community, though. A longtime supporter of CREATE, Whitfield is founder and past president of The Association for Excellence in Education, an organization dedicated to giving students the greatest possible education through grants and scholarships to improve education. Since its launch in 1983, AEE -- which draws funding from the generous gifts of businesses and individuals -- has raised millions of dollars for funding needed programs and equipment. This foresight on Whitfield’s part has made a tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of children in the area. Whitfield has also served on numerous boards around Tupelo and Mississippi, including for the Mississippi Economic Council, Community Development Foundation, Yocona Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, North Mississippi Health Services and others. He is a member of the Tupelo Rotary Club, and has served as president for the organization. He has also established the Whitfield Leadership Endowment Fund at CREATE, “to provide support for activities, projects, programs and organizations that promote excellence in some phase of life in Tupelo, with primary consideration given to efforts to develop, improve or strengthen leadership in the community.” Such devotion to community development is rare, and Whitfield’s example is a benchmark for community service by others.

Rubye Del Harden: Owner of SprintPrint, S.N.A.P., and Results Inc. in Tupelo

There are perhaps few others who have worked as hard for the empowerment of women in Northeast Mississippi as Rubye Del Harden. Harden, who is at her heart a teacher (prior to her newspaper, printing and consulting careers she was a high-school band instructor), leads leadership classes and seminars across the region and helped spearhead the creation of NEWMS, an organization dedicated to helping women reach their full potential. Harden, who owns Sprint Print, S.N.A.P., The Red Bay News, RESULTS, Inc., and Itawamba Die Cutting, was honored in 2003 by the U.S. Small Business Administration with the Women in Business Advocate of the Year award. She has not only served as a mentor for women, but has also been a close friend and advisor to this magazine’s publisher. She is an extremely business savvy individual who looks for and promotes the best in those around her.

Ruth Liveakos: Longtime educator in Tupelo Public Schools system

The fact that her name adorns the Performing Arts Center on the Tupelo High School campus should give a good indication of just how much of an impact “Mrs. L” had on the students she taught and the faculty she served alongside. Liveakos taught and directed the theater program at Tupelo High from 1964 to 1985, building the foundation of a program that today is one of the best in the state.

Nathaniel Stone: Retired, former principal of Milam Intermediate School, Tupelo

Sometimes, kids don’t care for their high school principles. There are exceptions, though, and Nathaniel Stone is one of them. Stone is one of the most liked and respected figures to have served in the Tupelo School System. His teaching career began in Kosciusko in 1957. He moved to Tupelo in 1959, where he began teaching and coaching football, basketball and baseball at Carver High School. In 1963, he was named principal at Green Street/Martin Luther King Elementary, where he served for almost 30 years. He served as principal at Milam Intermediate School from 1992 until his retirement in 1999. In addition to caring for and leading thousands of Tupelo’s children over the years, Stone has also been heavily active in the community, serving not only at his church, Springhill Missionary Baptist, but also in organizations such as the Lee County 4-H Advisory Committee, Tupelo Committee of Concern, the Committee Foundation for Positive Action and the Tupelo Community Service Program. Stone’s service to children and the community was recognized by the Mississippi Legislature in 1999.

Dr. James Neely: Retired, former physician

Dr. James Neely was born in West Point and moved to Tupelo in 1964, where he practiced medicine until retiring a few years ago. Dr. Neely graduated from Kentucky State College, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in chemistry. He earned his Doctorate of Medicine Degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Neely played a major part in the growth of Lee County’s African-American community. He provided health care for blacks at a time when such care was truly lacking in the region. Dr. Neely has been active in the community, holding memberships in numerous civic, professional, and charitable organizations.

Greg Pirkle: Attorney and practicing partner with Phelps Dunbar LLP

He is a tax attorney by day and Tom Sawyer by night. Well, not just Tom Sawyer, but possibly any other character. Pirkle is a very talented singer and actor, performing with the Tupelo Community Theatre (he played Tom Sawyer in the May 2004 production of “Big River”). He also, along with his wife, Lisa, are “involved in all sorts of community service [projects and] do all kinds of good works,” as one person who recommended him stated. Pirkle also serves on the Board of Directors of the CREATE Foundation.

Tommy Morgan: Real estate broker and developer, owner of Coldwell Bank Tommy Morgan Inc., Realtors® in Tupelo

Tommy Morgan has not only been responsible for developing large sections of commercial and residential real estate in and around Tupelo, but he also has used his resources and talents to preserve and restore some of the city’s historic buildings. Within the last five years, Morgan has been instrumental in the restoration of the old City Hall building at Court Street and Broadway in Downtown Tupelo, and he also was responsible for leading a restoration of the old Bank of Tupelo building at Spring and Main, bringing back the look -- complete with the tower and spire on top -- the building had prior to the 1960s. The building itself is more than 100 years old. Those efforts earned Morgan the Award for Excellence honor from the Downtown Tupelo/Main Street Association. However, his reaction to the award speaks volumes. He said he didn’t do these things for honors or awards. Rather, he has been blessed by God with a successful business, and he feels it is important to give back to the community and use his talents and abilities to make Tupelo a better place. Morgan is also active in the community, and has given time and resources in other ways that helped a large number of people in Tupelo and Lee County.

Places

18: Elvis Presley’s Birthplace and Museum: With a recent major grounds renovation, the birthplace of one of the world’s best-known entertainers is prepared for throngs of visitors who visit Tupelo annually to catch a glimpse of Elvis’ humble beginnings. The two-room birthplace is possibly one of the best known and most visited little houses in the United States.

19: Oren Dunn Museum: An impeccable collection of Tupelo’s history, displayed in a great manner, in a historic building to boot. The school building, settler’s house and Dudie’s Diner are must-see features.

20: Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield and Museum: About six miles west of Baldwyn on Hwy. 370 sits the site of what is considered to be a decisive Confederate victory in the Civil War. General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s forces whipped Union General S.D. Sturgis’ troops and captured badly needed supplies on June 10, 1864. The battle is considered a major tactical victory for the South, but failed to stop U.S. Major General William Sherman’s flow of supplies along a rail line from Nashville to Chattanooga.

21: Tupelo Automobile Museum: More than 120 collector and antique automobiles and dozens of signs from days and petroleum companies gone by make this an auto lover’s paradise. The automobiles are from the collection of Frank Spain, mentioned earlier in this list.

22: Tupelo National Battlefield: It is small, but its significance is grand. In the spring of 1964, U.S. Major General William Sherman was preparing to take Atlanta and make his “march to the sea.” A big obstacle, though, was Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s corp of mounted infantry, patrolling the Mid-South. Sherman ordered his men to attack Forrest’s corp to keep him from cutting Sherman’s communication and supply lines. On July 13-15, 1864, the Battle of Tupelo was a result of one of the advances by Union forces. The North lost the fight, but it kept Forrest in Mississippi and from interfering with Sherman’s campaign for Georgia.

Source: U.S. National Park Service, Department of the Interior

23: Tupelo Buffalo Park: Dan Franklin’s herd of buffalo and other exotic animals along Coley Road have attracted thousands of visitors in just a few short years. Tukota, the star of the park, is a white buffalo -- one of only three or so in the United States -- and is revered in Indian culture. The park is billed as the third-largest zoo in Mississippi.

24: Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery: Established in 1901 and originally named the Tupelo National Fish Hatchery, this facility sits on 25 acres near Downtown Tupelo and consists of 13 earthen ponds, two lined ponds, and a hatching/growing building. Its focus is on restoration of certain types of fish, including paddlefish and alligator gar. The station is also home to the Tupelo Garden Club. More than 50,000 people visit the hatchery each year.

25: Tupelo War Museum: Tony Lute’s collection of World War II artifacts and memorabilia is now set up for all to see in the Mall at Barnes Crossing. This is an impressive array of all kinds of war related items.

26: Veterans Park: A great, long walking track, serene lake and lots of room to run and play make this East Tupelo park fantastic.

27: Ballard Park: Again, a great walking track, nice lake, beautiful water fountain, geese, playground for the kids and room to run and play make this a treasure. Carry bread; the ducks are hungry.

28: GumTree Museum of Art: Provides a showcase and serves as an educational institution for the visual arts through high-quality exhibitions, lectures, workshops and other activities. Set in the historic original Peoples Bank building.

29: Tombigbee State Park: Just outside Plantersville, this park offers a great location for family reunions, business gatherings and the like. A baseball field, event building, lake and lots of room to roam and run make this a great getaway just minutes from Tupelo.

30: Elvis Presley Lake: A great place to take the boat out for a day on the water. Great fishing and a beautiful wooded setting great for camping, grilling out, or just sitting in a lawn chair and enjoying nature.

31: Lake Lamar Bruce: See the description for Elvis Presley Lake, then go north to Saltillo. Lake Lamar Bruce is a great getaway, too.

32: Bancorpsouth Center: Hundreds of thousands of Northeast Mississippians have enjoyed and experienced entertainment here that normally would require a trip to Memphis or Atlanta. From Elton John to the Eagles, the big building has hosted a decade of big events.

33: Tupelo Hardware: We’ve really tried to avoid promoting specific retail businesses, but this old store in Downtown holds the distinction of being where Elvis Presley bought his first guitar. Plus, it just has a great, old-time hardware store look inside.

Things

34: Tupelo Symphony Orchestra: Communities this size simply are not supposed to have symphony orchestras. The Tupelo Symphony Orchestra performs to big crowds several times each year at the Civic Auditorium, with its annual performance July 4 at Ballard Park being perhaps its most widely anticipated performance.

35: Tupelo Community Theatre/Lyric Theater: You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. And you’ll be amazed at the level of talent from everyday folks around Tupelo. The Tupelo Community Theatre and the historic Lyric Theater are tremendous assets to Tupelo and Greater Lee County.

36: CREATE Foundation: Founded to build permanent community endowment assets, empower regional community development, provide leadership on community issues and manage charitable funds contributed by individuals to large corporations. CREATE is the sole shareholder of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, and Journal profits are returned through dividends to CREATE to fund these causes in Northeast Mississippi.

37: Community Development Foundation: Another organization founded to promote economic development in Tupelo and Lee County. The CDF has been studied by cities much larger in an effort to duplicate its more than 50-year track record of success. It is another of visionary McLean’s ideas.

38: The Natchez Trace Parkway and Visitor’s Center: Scheduled to be completed this year, the more than 400-mile stretch of scenic parkway makes for a beautiful drive through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. The Trace offers dozens of historic sites along its path. The headquarters, in Tupelo, is also the site of the Visitor’s Center, where special events are held for the public throughout the year.

39: The Sanctuary Hospice House: A new, spacious facility in West Tupelo will mean even more gravely ill people can live their last days in a peaceful, home-like setting, receiving compassionate care when they need it most. The expansion has been made possible by very generous donations from throughout the community. The Tupelo facility will also now be the blueprint standard for such facilities across the nation.

40: Mall at Barnes Crossing carousel: Its beautifully hand-sculpted horses go up and down and around and around, delighting children. It’s the centerpiece of the food court at the mall, and when it was taken down in 2004 for repairs, the mall had a lot of disappointed youngsters on its hands. It’s back up and running and will be for years to come.

41: Helen Foster Purvis Mississippi Room, Lee County Library: Find works about Tupelo, this region, Mississippi, and books by Mississippi authors in this research collection housed in the Lee County Library. Microfilm of Tupelo newspapers dating back to the 1870s can be viewed here, as well as files on Lee County personalities, old photos and more. The library itself is a treasure, too.

42: Tupelo Farmers’ Market: A great place to pick up vegetables and fruits fresh from the farm, and soon, a place to also take your pick of arts and crafts.

43: GumTree Arts Festival: Some 100 artisans show off their creations and offer them for sale to the public each May in this terrific event, held on the Lee County Courthouse lawn.

44: Tupelo Furniture Market: Though not open to the public, this industry show brings more than 34,000 people to Tupelo twice each year, supporting the furniture industry in this area and infusing huge amounts of revenue into the local economy.

45: Tupelo Regional Airport: Being able to dramatically cut travel time to Memphis -- and now Atlanta through Delta -- and the rest of the country makes the airport a great asset to the community.

46: Fairpark District: Bringing new life to Downtown Tupelo and making great use of the former fairgrounds, this multi-purpose development will be a jewel of the city when it is completed.

47: The future interstate 22: For now, it’s called U.S. Highway 78, but its designation as the future Interstate 22, running between Memphis and Birmingham, has great implications for economic development in Lee County and beyond, especially in Wellspring, the new industrial megasite near the junction of Lee, Union and Pontotoc counties being touted to auto manufacturers.

48: NMMC Wellness Center: Excellent facilities and staff give no able person in Lee County an excuse for being in poor physical shape. There is a membership fee; call for details.

49: University of Mississippi /Itawamba Community College Tupelo campuses: Residents of Tupelo and surrounding communities can enhance and further their education without having to go to Oxford, Starkville or Fulton, which saves time and money.

50: North Mississippi Medical Center: Residents of Northeast Mississippi have access to medical care usually not found in cities this size. North Mississippi Medical Center is the largest non-metropolitan hospital in the United States. Though it has had some political problems of late, a new commitment to customer service means the care residents enjoy will only get even better.

This feature originally apeared in the Spring-Summer 2005 Tupelo edition of the Apartment Finder & Newcomers Guide. Copyright 2005, all rights reserved.